The date for South Korea's presidential election has been announced, with the country set to vote on its next leader nearly two months after a court upheld the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.

Not without controversy, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tops our list by winning his nation's presidency in a landslide this May and subsequently upending, rethinking and reshaping the state of affairs -- for good or for bad -- at home and abroad.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump pledged his commitment to defending South Korea under an existing security alliance during a phone call with South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Thursday, her office said.